As I mentioned at the beginning of chapter 1, some words have been changed to ones Earth humans can pronounce since they have only one short tongue. I also want to thank the nameless folks who smuggled my story off planet so the anti slavery movement can see what life here is really like and help end slavery across the universe.
I've never been so scared in my life. Even in the midst of battle at sea with cannon shot flying and splinters of wood from hits trying to stab me, screams, yelling, chaos, and blood. But not as terrified as this.
I'm suspended upright, spread eagle in the middle of the blacksmith's shop. She's honing a straight razor on a strop. Her boy is hammering a bronze band into a collar for me.
"Sure you don't want it castrated Mam? Makes them much more docile."
"No Marlene, just shaved, branded and collared. Do a close shave. I don't want it to show any body hair, especially in the pubic area. Half an hour?"
"Better make it a hour."
"OK I'll send someone in an hour."
"Thank you M' Lady."
Yesterday started so normally. I'd just finished walking Lady Penny's pet warrdic (cross between a dog and a sheep, with soft thick curly pink fur) and there was a guest sitting with her in the blue parlor when we returned.
"Oh, there's my Sweetie! Come to mommy." I dropped the leash and Sweetie ran to My Lady. "Sweetie wants her belly rubbed, doesn't she."
Her guest has black hair with a distinctive widows peak. Her eyes were almost black with a cunning cruel appraising look.
"Margaret, this is my personal servant, Jack. Jack, this is Baroness Margaret."
"Pleased to meet you Baroness."
"Humph. Penelope, it is a slave, and should always be addressed as such."
Little miss sunshine.
"Oh Maggy, get that pickle out of your ass. Jack, you'll never guess who Margaret is married to."
"No Mam."
"Well, hold onto your hat. She's my brother Richard's wife!"
"Oh?"
"Yes, and the reason she's here? Next month is Richard's fortieth birthday, and I'm giving you to him as a present. What do you think of that?'
I was speechless. I'd see my captain again!
"Now, go tell Chef we'll eat early so you and Maggy can catch the six o'clock train, dear."
I was in a daze. I'll be with my captain again. I missed him so much, especially when I woke up first thing in the morning alone in my bed. Don't get me wrong, life at the chateau is good, Lady Penelope and Sir Gregory are kind owners, but I do miss him.
Baroness Margaret made it very clear she did not approve of Gloria and I eating with them.
We all said our 'good byes' at the station.
"You! Porter. Does this train have a slave car?"
"Yes of course Madame."
"Good, take this thing."
The slave car was just behind the locomotive. Barred windows, hard wooden benches, an open toilet at one end of the car and a water tank with a tin cup chained to it at the other. Of course the door was kept locked.
By the time we arrived at our destination I knew I'd grown too soft. Even my hammock in the foc'sul when I first went to sea was more comfortable than the hard benches.
Baroness Margaret took me directly to the barns that held the blacksmith shop. I was ordered to strip and here I hang.
The whole thing is terrifying! Shaved with a straight razor, Especially down there.
"I could just nip them right off. Tell the Baroness I slipped. How about just one? Which do you prefer? Right or left?" she laughed. I didn't even breath.
Her helper is pumping the bellows. The branding iron goes from straw yellow to glowing red. "Let's take that mean old gag off."
There's no use begging, and fucked if I'll give her the pleasure.
"Oh, strong silent type, eh stud?
"Aaaahhh!" I scream as the iron burns my shoulder. Then whimper as it is reheated to do my left buttock. I scream again as it sears me.
"That was so much fun. Douse him."
I shriek as the icy water is thrown over me. It doesn't wash away the smell of burning meat. They left me hanging.
Marlene, the smith, returned later with two guards. "Mike, I'm off at six. Would you be a dear and walk me home? A weak little girl all alone on the dark streets isn't safe, you know."
"I don't go straight home. You'd have to stop at the 'The Red Trout' for a drink with me on the way."
"Why sir, you wouldn't try getting me drunk and take advantage of me. Would you?"
"Never had to get you drunk before darlin'"
"Well, let's get Her Bitchiness' new plaything down. Ed, give us a hand. You can rivet on the collar."
I was secured in a fixture something between stocks and a hammer press.
"Bang!" by my left ear. "Bang!" by my right ear and my bronze collar was riveted around my neck.
"Meet you here at six then. Bye Ed, we won't start till eight tomorrow, enjoy your evening."
With a chain lead onto my new collar I was led to another part of the barn and pushed into a four foot cube cage. The door was locked and they left.
Bare wood floor. Nothing else. Two days. No food or water. I soiled myself. The days were long and cold. The nights longer and colder.
The lights come on. "Joe, bring the hose, there's a filthy little piggy in here."
Fuck me, that's the coldest water I've ever felt, and I've sailed through winter storms in the high arctic. He unlocks the cage. "Out Pig."
Cold stiff, hungry and exhausted I crawl out and pull myself up to my feet.
A lady guard wearing a clean crisp uniform clips a leather leash onto my collar and leads me naked out of the barn. We cross a gravel road and go through a gate in a high stone wall. A different world. A formal garden. Elegant even put to sleep for the winter. Hedges. Bushes trimmed to fantastic shapes.
We go into the big limestone mansion. Up a flight of stairs and along a carpeted hall. Through a set of double doors to an elegant tastefully appointed sitting room.
Baroness Margaret hands her tea cup to a maid who quietly leaves the room.
"Kneel." Whispers the guard.
"Thank you girl. You may wait outside. Leave the door open."
"Thank you Mam."
"So, slave? Are you ready to serve me, or would you rather go back to the barn?"